“Just received my UFC contract for 2013!” he wrote this past week on Twitter and Facebook. “This is going to be a AWESOME year! Hoping to get a fight late March or early April. Thank you to all my fans!”

Bowling most recently fought in August, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Tarec Saffiedine, who challenges for welterweight champion Nate Marquardt’s title in this weekend’s Showtime headliner.

Prior to the defeat, Bowling was on a 3-1 run that included Strikeforce knockouts of Jerron Peoples and Brandon Saling.

The Ohio-based Team Vision fighter, who went 1-2 in a three-fight Strikeforce series with Bobby Voelker, has racked up nine stoppages in his 11 career wins since his pro debut in 2007. In fact, he won his first six fights via first-round strikes, in an average time of just 80 seconds.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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